The NEW McLaren W1: A worthy successor to the F1 and P1? | Henry Catchpole - The Driver's Seat
The McLaren W1 is following in some pretty illustrious tyre tracks, because the McLaren F1 and the McLaren P1 are both icons of the supercar landscape. But when it was unveiled the W1 didn’t seem to create quite the buzz you might expect, given the company’s heritage. Henry Catchpole went the McLaren Technology Centre to talk to the people behind it and do some investigation. What he found was a car that has true Formula 1 expertise baked into it and should be pretty incredible to drive. With all 399 already accounted for at a cool £2million (before options) each, the W1 has arguably done all the impressing it needs already. But as a halo car, it should make those of us that can’t afford it dream about being able to afford it. We should long to just see one in the carbon and 3D printed titanium. One of the reasons that it hasn’t yet made people gasp is that a headline power output of 1257bhp isn’t really that extraordinary for a hypercar in 2024. Until, that is, you realise that all of it is going just to the rear wheels. That makes it much more interesting. Then there are the looks, because at first glance the W1 could be considered a replacement for the 750S rather than a wild Ultimate Series car. But there are reasons for the way it looks. The first is that its complex aerodynamics are based on the principles of ground effects, which means it rather hides its aero light under a bodywork bushel, so to speak. Then there is the fact that this is attempting to be a genuinely useable supercar on the road as well as a blindingly fast one around a track. That means seating two people properly. As such it has to look a little more conventional than something like an Aston Martin Valkyrie. But make no mistake, this car has a crazy amount of downforce. McLaren has genuinely put Formula 1 knowhow into it. For a start, Robin Algoo whose brainchild the aero concept is, worked as an aerodynamicist in the F1 team from 2010 to 2016. McLaren could have quoted a maximum downforce figure of 1298kg or 2862lb but as that’s only available for a fraction of a second under high speed braking, the decision was instead taken to quote the 1000kg that is available in a sustained way under high speed cornering. The engine is also completely new, the suspension has 3D printed titanium elements, there is a heave spring at the front and, just as importantly, hydraulic power assistance for the steering has been retained. The interior features a new material called InnoKnit (which conjures up images of F1 Mechanics getting the knitting needles out in the pits in their spare time) and even the instrument binnacle is aerodynamic. So, which would you have in your dream garage? McLaren W1, the Bugatti Tourbillon, the Ferrari F80 or something else? Let us know in the comments down below. And if you enjoy this video then please do think about giving it a thumbs up or even investigating the Hagerty Drivers Club by clicking on this link: https://www.hagerty.com/drivers-club/ #thedriversseat #henrycatchpole #neverstopdriving #mobil1 #mclarenw1 Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications! http://bit.ly/HagertyYouTube Visit our website for an insurance quote, to join Hagerty Drivers Club, and for daily automotive news, cars stories, reviews, and opinion: https://www.hagerty.com Stay up to date by signing up for our email newsletters here: https://www.hagerty.com/media/newsletter/ Follow us on social media: Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/Hagerty Instagram | https://instagram.com/Hagerty Twitter | https://twitter.com/Hagerty If you love cars, you belong with us. Hagerty Drivers Club is the world’s largest community for automotive enthusiasts. Members enjoy valuable automotive discounts, exclusive events and experiences, roadside service created specifically for collector vehicles, and a subscription to the bimonthly Hagerty Drivers Club magazine. Join Hagerty Drivers Club here: https://www.hagerty.com/drivers-club Like what you see? Watch our other series including: Redline Rebuilds | Time-lapse engine rebuilds from start to finish http://bit.ly/RedlineRebuild Barn Find Hunter | Tom Cotter searches the country for abandoned cars http://bit.ly/BarnFIndHunter Jason Cammisa on the Icons | The definitive car review https://bit.ly/JasonCammisaICONS Revelations | Untold Stories About Automotive Legends with Jason Cammisa https://bit.ly/JasonCammisaRevelations The Driver's Seat with Henry Catchpole https://bit.ly/HenryCatchpole Contact us: Suggestions and feedback - [email protected] Press inquiries - [email protected] Partnership requests - [email protected]
2024-11-13T16:00:19Z
FIRST DRIVE: Alpine A290 – New Hot Hatch Champion?
The A290 is Alpine’s second coming after the splendid A110 sports car – and it could scarcely be more of a change! Joining the family alongside the (ageing but brilliant) turbocharged, mid-engined, rear-drive sports car is… a front-wheel drive, electric hot hatchback. Yes, yes, we know EVs haven’t quite hit the mark with enthusiasts yet. But hot hatches are few and far between these days, and the A110 was stand-out special, so we should both be excited and give Alpine credit for bucking a gloomy trend. How then, does the Alpine A290 stack up? Over to Top Gear Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Jack Rix, to find out… Subscribe to Top Gear for more videos: http://bit.ly/SubscribeToTopGear WANT MORE TOP GEAR? Listen to the Top Gear Magazine Podcast: https://topgear.podlink.to/Podcast Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.topgear.com/newsletter-signup 00:00 Intro 01:21 The Alpine A290 03:01 Power and performance 05:26 Handling 07:21 Styling 09:23 Interior 10:18 Gadgets 13:40 On track 15:39 Conclusion MORE ABOUT TOP GEAR: Welcome to the official home of Top Gear on YouTube. Here you'll find all the best clips from your favourite episodes, whether that’s Ken Block drifting London in the Hoonicorn, Chris Harris in the latest Porsche 911 GT3 or classic Top Gear clips from Clarkson, Hammond and May. You'll also find the latest performance car reviews from the TopGear.com crew, our brand new series American Tuned with Rob Dahm and the fastest power laps from our in house performance benchmark: The Stig. This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios. Service & Feedback https://www.bbcstudios.com/contact/contact-us/
11/6/2024 10:32:42 AM
Driving the incredible McLaren GTR trio: F1, P1 and Senna | Henry Catchpole - The Driver’s Seat
Driving one McLaren GTR would make for an amazing day. Getting to drive all three is nigh-on unbelievable. Only the F1, the P1 and the Senna have ever had the GTR treatment in McLaren’s history. Even fewer have been converted to drive on the road as well as the racetrack, but all three in this film have been through Lanzante’s workshop, meaning they can mingle with regular traffic. With matching liveries and a couple of Long Tails, it makes for quite the sight. In this latest episode of The Driver’s Seat, Henry Catchpole tells the GTR story with the help of Ray Bellm, the man who started it all. We delve into how the McLaren F1 road car became a race car that won Le Mans at the first attempt in 1995. What bargain did Ron Dennis make? How did J.J. Lehto get the best from the GTR? How did Bellm end up with two F1s in La Sarthe in 1997? It’s a fascinating tale. Jump forward 20 years and you have the modern McLaren GTRs, here painted in tribute to the F1’s Gulf Davidoff livery. There are other nods to the older car inside each one as well, but the P1 and Senna both bring their own characters to the party too. With 1080bhp the P1 is insanely fast (even after the fury of the short-geared, sequential shift F1) and arguably the most fluidly beautiful of the trio. Meanwhile, the Senna GTR has a modern race car feel to it and for the reason behind that you need to look at the car which was unveiled at the Geneva Motorshow in 2018… After driving around the old Top Gear test track for the day, Dean Lanzante then sat down with us to explain the reasons for and the work that goes into road-converting a GTR. There are legislative, heritage and comfort tightropes to be walked to greater and lesser degrees with all three. But the experience of driving a GTR on the road is worth the effort. Just remember to shift all the way down the F1’s sequential ‘box before you come to a stop! We hope that you enjoy the film and the stories in it. If the sound of a GTR downshift has inspired you and you’d like to show your support, then please do subscribe to the channel and give the film a thumbs up. It really helps. And if you’re interested in finding out more about the Hagerty Drivers Club and all its myriad benefits then just click on this link: https://www.hagerty.com/drivers-club/ #thedriversseat #henrycatchpole #neverstopdriving #mclarengtr #mclarenF1 Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications! http://bit.ly/HagertyYouTube Visit our website for an insurance quote, to join Hagerty Drivers Club, and for daily automotive news, cars stories, reviews, and opinion: https://www.hagerty.com Stay up to date by signing up for our email newsletters here: https://www.hagerty.com/media/newsletter/ Follow us on social media: Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/Hagerty Instagram | https://instagram.com/Hagerty Twitter | https://twitter.com/Hagerty If you love cars, you belong with us. Hagerty Drivers Club is the world’s largest community for automotive enthusiasts. Members enjoy valuable automotive discounts, exclusive events and experiences, roadside service created specifically for collector vehicles, and a subscription to the bimonthly Hagerty Drivers Club magazine. Join Hagerty Drivers Club here: https://www.hagerty.com/drivers-club Like what you see? Watch our other series including: Redline Rebuilds | Time-lapse engine rebuilds from start to finish http://bit.ly/RedlineRebuild Barn Find Hunter | Tom Cotter searches the country for abandoned cars http://bit.ly/BarnFIndHunter Jason Cammisa on the Icons | The definitive car review https://bit.ly/JasonCammisaICONS Revelations | Untold Stories About Automotive Legends with Jason Cammisa https://bit.ly/JasonCammisaRevelations The Driver's Seat with Henry Catchpole https://bit.ly/HenryCatchpole Contact us: Suggestions and feedback - [email protected] Press inquiries - [email protected] Partnership requests - [email protected]
11/20/2024 4:00:04 PM
FIRST DRIVE: BMW M5 Touring – Now It Makes Sense!
The future is heavy. So heavy that the new hybrid BMW M5 saloon weighs 35kg more than the non-hybrid X5 M SUV. And yet, could adding another 40kg – to turn M5 saloon into M5 Touring – suddenly make it the fast Five you want? See, a 2.5-tonne super-saloon doesn’t really work from a dynamic point of view. But, seen through the lens of fast, practical transport, can a booted version of the M5 makes sense? Sure, the M5 Touring is 75kg heavier than the equivalent M Division SUV (no, really!) but a lower centre of gravity will forever be a winner. Then there’s the kudos of driving a hot wagon, too. Is then, the M5 Touring the M5 to have? Over to Top Gear Magazine’s Tom Ford… Subscribe to Top Gear for more videos: http://bit.ly/SubscribeToTopGear WANT MORE TOP GEAR? Listen to the Top Gear Magazine Podcast: https://topgear.podlink.to/Podcast Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.topgear.com/newsletter-signup MORE ABOUT TOP GEAR: Welcome to the official home of Top Gear on YouTube. Here you'll find all the best clips from your favourite episodes, whether that’s Ken Block drifting London in the Hoonicorn, Chris Harris in the latest Porsche 911 GT3 or classic Top Gear clips from Clarkson, Hammond and May. You'll also find the latest performance car reviews from the TopGear.com crew, our brand new series American Tuned with Rob Dahm and the fastest power laps from our in house performance benchmark: The Stig. This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios. Service & Feedback https://www.bbcstudios.com/contact/contact-us/
2024-11-09T23:01:00Z
Range Rover Sport SV vs Audi RS6 GT: Track Battle
Practicality and performance don’t often go together, but we all get a little excited when they do. Case in point: the optional back seats in the new Porsche 911 GT3 Touring. That’s one end of the scale though – a performance car with a sop to being sensible. At the other end of the scale (literally and figuratively) are properly practical cars that have had the wick turned up considerably. Like these two: the Range Rover Sport SV and the Audi RS6 GT. The former is the fastest version of Range Rover’s sportiest SUV, a follow-up to the outrageous previous-generation Sport SVR. The latter is a run-out version of Audi’s über go-faster estate, complete bespoke bodywork and manually adjustable coilover suspension. Each costs over £170,000. But are these proper performance cars, or just jack-of-all-trades machines that don’t quite hit the mark? Over to Top Gear Magazine’s Deputy Editor, Ollie Kew, to find out. With a little ‘help’ from The Stig… Subscribe to Top Gear for more videos: http://bit.ly/SubscribeToTopGear WANT MORE TOP GEAR? Listen to the Top Gear Magazine Podcast: https://topgear.podlink.to/Podcast Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.topgear.com/newsletter-signup 00:00 Intro 00:49 The Stig 02:48 Audi RS6 GT 06:45 Range Rover Sport SV 10:55 Conclusion MORE ABOUT TOP GEAR: Welcome to the official home of Top Gear on YouTube. Here you'll find all the best clips from your favourite episodes, whether that’s Ken Block drifting London in the Hoonicorn, Chris Harris in the latest Porsche 911 GT3 or classic Top Gear clips from Clarkson, Hammond and May. You'll also find the latest performance car reviews from the TopGear.com crew, our brand new series American Tuned with Rob Dahm and the fastest power laps from our in house performance benchmark: The Stig. This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios. Service & Feedback https://www.bbcstudios.com/contact/contact-us/
2024-11-17T16:00:09Z
Ferrari 12Cilindri vs Aston Martin Vanquish: Super GT Battle!
Once upon a time the McLaren F1 boasted a mind-bending 627hp and was the pinnacle of the supercar world. Yet here we are in late 2024 with a Ferrari 12Cilindri and an Aston Martin Vanquish that each sport around two hundred horsepower more than the iconic Big Mac! In an era when combustions engines keep being read their last rites, that we’ve got two big twelve-cylinder motors not only alive, but producing ever most preposterous amounts of power, is a reason to celebrate. Which we could do – but when two so-called ‘super GTs’ arrive so quickly one after the other, rather than let them rest on their laurels we’d sooner find out which was best. So, before the snow and ice of winter descended upon Italy, we took a yellow Ferrari and a red Aston Martin to a rather special location. Top Gear’s Contributing Editor, Jethro Bovingdon, is your referee… Subscribe to Top Gear for more videos: http://bit.ly/SubscribeToTopGear WANT MORE TOP GEAR? Listen to the Top Gear Magazine Podcast: https://topgear.podlink.to/Podcast Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.topgear.com/newsletter-signup MORE ABOUT TOP GEAR: Welcome to the official home of Top Gear on YouTube. Here you'll find all the best clips from your favourite episodes, whether that’s Ken Block drifting London in the Hoonicorn, Chris Harris in the latest Porsche 911 GT3 or classic Top Gear clips from Clarkson, Hammond and May. You'll also find the latest performance car reviews from the TopGear.com crew, our brand new series American Tuned with Rob Dahm and the fastest power laps from our in house performance benchmark: The Stig. This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios. Service & Feedback https://www.bbcstudios.com/contact/contact-us/
2024-11-29T17:16:20Z